A Routine Hearing Turns Deadly (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Summerlin, Las Vegas – Two years after gunfire erupted in a routine child custody deposition, a key witness has launched a negligence lawsuit against the estate of the murdered attorney. Lisa Rasmussen, who sat mere feet from the shooter, claims Dennis Prince overlooked known threats tied to a bitter family dispute. The April 8, 2024, tragedy at Prince Law Group left two dead and survivors grappling with lasting trauma.[1][2]
A Routine Hearing Turns Deadly
The conference room on the fifth floor of the City National Bank Building buzzed with tension that morning. Seven people gathered for the deposition of Katherine Houston in a heated custody battle: Dennis Prince, Ashley Prince, associate attorney Shannon Wilson, court reporter Lisa Filiberti, Kelley Houston, her husband Joseph Houston II, and Rasmussen, who represented Kelley and the couple’s daughter Taylor.[3] Joseph Houston, a 77-year-old attorney, had stepped in to represent his son Dylan in the dispute with ex-wife Ashley Prince.
Dennis Prince swore in Kelley Houston and posed just three questions about Dylan’s drinking habits. Then came a deafening bang. Rasmussen spotted a gun barrel emerging from Joseph’s sleeve as he stood and fired across the table. She grabbed her client and bolted toward locked double doors, pounding for help while shouting to call 911. Gunshots echoed – up to five more – before Joseph turned the weapon on himself.[4]
Roots in a Vicious Custody Fight
The underlying case pitted Dylan Houston against Ashley Prince over their children, marked by deep animosity. Joseph Houston represented his son pro bono, while Dennis Prince advocated for Ashley. Emails beforehand hinted at friction; Joseph had requested Ashley’s absence from the deposition, but Dennis overruled it.[3]…